Filled edible product, and system and method for production of a filled edible product

Abstract

An edible product in accordance with the present invention involves an edible inner component made from a first material and an edible outer cover component substantially completely encapsulating the edible inner component. In one form of the invention, the inner component is in the form of a hairball treatment for cats and the outer component is a dough-like material. A system for producing the edible product includes a first material source for supplying a first edible material to form the inner component of the edible product, a second material source for supplying a second edible material to form the outer component of the edible product, and an extruder for continuously coextruding the first edible material and the edible second material to produce an elongated rope of edible product. A crimping apparatus receives the longitudinal rope extruded from the extruder for crimping the longitudinal rope to separate the longitudinal rope into individual edible products. A method for producing the edible product involves supplying the first and second edible materials to the extruder, and continuously coextruding the first and second materials as a longitudinal rope in which the first material is positioned within and surrounded by the second material. The longitudinal rope is cut at spaced apart locations as it is being extruded from the extruder to produce individual edible products each containing an inner component comprised of the first material and an outer cover component comprised of the second material that substantially completely surrounds the inner component, with the edible products being sealed at opposite ends.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An edible pet product useful in treating hairballs in animals, comprising: 
       a first edible material in the form of a hairball treatment formulation, the first edible material comprising an emulsion that includes malt syrup, the emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase; and  
       a second edible cover material different from the first material and surrounding the first material to encapsulate the hairball treatment formulation, the first and second materials being conveyed through an orifice with the first material located inside the second material.  
     
     
       2. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the emulsion includes at least one of mineral oil and petroleum jelly. 
     
     
       3. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second material includes soy flour and wheat flour. 
     
     
       4. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom side of the pet product is substantially flat. 
     
     
       5. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein a top side of the pet product is rounded. 
     
     
       6. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom side and a top side of the pet product are rounded, and includes ends that are crimped at a substantial center point of the pet product with respect to the bottom and top sides of the pet product. 
     
     
       7. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hairball treatment emulsion forming the first material includes a water control ingredient. 
     
     
       8. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hairball treatment emulsion forming the first material includes a preservative. 
     
     
       9. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hairball treatment emulsion forming the first material includes a thickener. 
     
     
       10. An edible pet product comprising: 
       an edible inner component comprised of an emulsion that includes malt syrup, the emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase; and  
       an edible outer cover component different in composition from the inner component and substantially completely encapsulating the inner component, and the outer component being sealed along two opposite ends, the outer and inner components being conveyed through an orifice with the inner component located inside the outer component.  
     
     
       11. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the seal on each end is located between top and bottom surfaces of the edible product. 
     
     
       12. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the seal on each end is located adjacent a bottom surface of the edible product. 
     
     
       13. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion forming the edible inner component includes a water control ingredient. 
     
     
       14. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion forming the inner component includes a preservative. 
     
     
       15. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion forming the inner component includes a thickener. 
     
     
       16. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the outer cover component is comprised of soy flour and wheat flour. 
     
     
       17. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion forming the inner component also comprises mineral oil. 
     
     
       18. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the oil is mineral oil. 
     
     
       19. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion forming the inner component is also comprised of at least one of mineral oil and petroleum jelly. 
     
     
       20. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the outer cover component is comprised of soy flour and wheat flour. 
     
     
       21. An edible pet product comprising: 
       an edible inner component and an edible outer component having different compositions and conveyed through an orifice with the inner component located inside the outer component;  
       the inner component comprising an emulsion containing malt syrup and petroleum jelly or mineral oil constituting a hairball treatment formulation, the emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase; and  
       the outer component completely encapsulating and surrounding the inner component to form an edible pet product, the pet product being crimped along two opposite ends so that the inner component is sealed within the outer component.  
     
     
       22. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the edible pet product is crimped at opposite ends at a location between top and bottom surfaces of the edible pet product. 
     
     
       23. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the edible pet product is crimped at opposite ends at a location adjacent a bottom surface of the edible product. 
     
     
       24. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the outer component is a dough material. 
     
     
       25. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the inner component is also comprised of a preservative. 
     
     
       26. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the outer cover component is comprised of soy flour and wheat flour. 
     
     
       27. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the inner comprised of the emulsion includes a water control ingredient. 
     
     
       28. The edible pet product as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the inner comprised of the emulsion includes a thickener.